JP2005089112A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of discharging a tab paper while it is inserted and enhancing operability. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device is provided with a printing setting memory part 16 for memorizing the division number, the number of sheets of a pair of tab paper, when the tab paper making a plurality of sheets of tab paper a pair are installed; and a print count part 21 counting means for counting the number of sheets of the used tab paper, i.e., the number of sheets of index paper used in an output job of every one part. Further, the image forming device is provided with a calculation part 22 for calculating a fraction in a pair of or a plurality of pairs of tab paper not used and remained in the output job of every one part based on the division number memorized in the print setting memory part 16 and the number of sheets of used tab paper counted by the print count part 21. After completion of output of each printing part, the tab paper of the fraction are discharged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine into which an index sheet such as a tab sheet can be inserted.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, there are a wide variety of apparatuses capable of printing an image on a standard size normal printing paper and printing a headline on a tab sheet on which a tab part (protruding part) is formed. It is used.

  In such a conventional image forming apparatus (for example, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1), when copying a document bundle composed of a plurality of (multiple pages) documents, a specific document in the document bundle Is copied to a tab sheet, and a document other than the specific document is copied to a normal print sheet.

  Commercially available tab paper is divided into an arbitrary number of divisions. For example, a tab sheet with a division number of 4 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the tab sheets with the division number 4 are a plurality of sets of tab sheets T <b> 1 to T <b> 4 that are set as one set and are continuously stacked. The tab paper T1 has a tab portion at the top of the right edge of the paper divided into four equal parts. Similarly, the tab sheets T2, T3, and T4 have tab portions formed at the second, third, and fourth (lowermost) stages on the right edge of the sheet, respectively.

Usually, when an image is formed on a tab sheet, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of sets of tab sheets T1 to T4 are stored in a sheet feeding tray of the image forming apparatus. As a result, images are formed in this order on the tab sheets T1, T2, T3, T4, T1,.
JP 2003-43855 A (publication date: February 14, 2003)

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the specific number of originals to be copied on the tab sheet is not an integral multiple of the number of tab sheet divisions, the tab sheet that is not used in the set of tab sheets T1 to T4 (tab sheet with a fraction) Will occur. In this case, it is necessary to remove the tab sheet of the fraction. Note that the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not disclose any processing of the tab sheet with the fraction.

  For example, when the number of specific originals to be copied on the tab sheet is 3, and the tab sheet is divided into four as shown in FIG. 8, the fourth tab sheet T4 is not used in the set of tab sheets. That is, a tab sheet T4 with a fraction of 1 is generated.

  Therefore, before starting copying, it is necessary to remove a tab sheet (for example, tab sheet T4) from the tab sheet in advance and set it in the sheet feeding tray. Alternatively, it is necessary to set tab sheets in the paper feed tray and remove the remaining tab sheets remaining in the paper feed tray after printing is completed.

  The above work is very troublesome when the number of copies is plural. When removing tab sheets of fractions in advance before starting copying, it is necessary to remove the tab sheets that are fractions of each group of tab sheets, which is a very troublesome operation.

  Further, when removing the tab sheets remaining in the paper feed tray after the printing is completed, it is necessary to perform the removal operation every time printing of each section is completed. This is because the tab position is shifted in each part unless the removal operation is performed every time printing of each part is completed.

  In the above example, the first copy is tab paper T1 to T3, but the second copy is tab paper T4, T1, T2.

  For this reason, since printing is interrupted when the printing output of each unit is completed, the printing performance is deteriorated. Further, the user has to wait in front of the image forming apparatus in order to remove the tab sheet for each unit.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of discharging while inserting an index sheet and having improved operability. is there.

  In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a recording paper supply unit and an index paper supply unit separately, and the recording paper supplied from the recording paper supply unit is supplied from the index paper supply unit. In an image forming apparatus capable of discharging while inserting supplied index sheets, a plurality of sets of index sheets are installed, and one set of index sheets is used for each output job. In the case of generating a fraction with respect to an integral multiple of the number of index sheets, the index sheet of the fraction is discharged after the output of each printing unit is completed.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention separately has a recording paper supply unit and an index paper supply unit, and supplies the index paper to the recording paper supplied from the recording paper supply unit. In an image forming apparatus capable of discharging while inserting an index sheet supplied from a section, when installing an index sheet including a plurality of sheets in the index sheet supply section, a set of index sheets The print setting storage means for storing the number of divisions, which is the number of sheets, the counting means for counting the number of used index sheets, which is the number of index sheets used in each output job, and the print setting storage means. In the output job for each part, based on the number of divisions and the number of used index sheets counted by the counting means And a calculating means for calculating a fraction of the use is not in the remaining set amount or more of sets of index paper is characterized by discharging the index page of the fraction after the output end of each printing unit.

  Furthermore, in addition to the above-described configuration, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention outputs the fractional index sheets discharged after the output of each printing unit to a discharge tray different from the discharge tray of the printing unit. It is characterized by that.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of sets of index sheets, and the number of index sheets used in each output job is an integral multiple of one set of index sheets. When generating a fraction with respect to the number of sheets, the fractional index sheet is discharged after the output of each printing unit is completed. Therefore, there is no need to perform the work of removing the fractional index sheet, and the operability is improved.

  In particular, when printing a plurality of copies, the operability is further improved. This is because it is not necessary to perform a very troublesome work of removing a fractional index sheet for each copy before starting printing. Alternatively, it is not necessary to remove the fractional index paper from the paper feed tray after the completion of the print output for each copy, so that the user does not have to wait in front of the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, since printing is not interrupted for each copy, the printing performance can be maintained at a high level.

  The index sheet is a sheet whose main purpose is to partition a plurality of sheets in a job. For example, a tab sheet in which a tab portion is formed and divided into an arbitrary number of divisions, or a colored sheet for partitioning that includes a plurality of colored sheets such as red, blue, and yellow.

  In addition, as described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention stores the number of divisions, which is a set number of the index sheets, when an index sheet including a plurality of sheets is set in the index sheet supply unit. Printing setting storage means for counting, counting means for counting the number of used index sheets used in the output job for each part, the number of divisions stored in the printing setting storage means, and the counting Calculation means for calculating a fraction of one or a plurality of sets of index sheets remaining unused in each output job based on the number of used index sheets counted by the means. .

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus can store the number of divided index sheets and can count the number of used index sheets. Further, the calculation means can automatically calculate the fraction of the index sheet based on the number of divisions and the number of used index sheets. This eliminates the need for the user to estimate the fraction of index sheets in advance.

  Since the fractional index sheet is discharged after the output of each printing unit is completed, there is no need for the user to remove the fractional index sheet, and the operability is improved.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the fractional index sheets discharged after the output of each printing unit is discharged to a discharge tray different from the discharge tray of the printing unit. Therefore, it is easy to sort each printing unit and fractional index sheets, and the operability of the image forming apparatus is further improved.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external front view of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has a function of a copying machine capable of reading a document image and copying the read image onto a recording medium such as paper (hereinafter simply referred to as paper) and an external personal computer (for example, In addition, it has a function as a printer that forms an image transmitted from the host PC 3a, 3b) on a sheet and discharges it, and is a so-called multifunction machine.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 can use a standard size blank recording sheet (hereinafter referred to as plain paper) as a sheet to be fed / discharged, and form a tab portion as shown in FIG. Tab paper and various colored papers such as red and blue can also be used. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can insert and discharge partition sheets (index sheets) such as tab sheets and colored sheets on predetermined pages of a plurality of document bundles. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a function of forming an image on the index sheet.

  Here, the index sheet refers to a sheet including a plurality of sheets as a set. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the index sheet is a tab sheet in which a set of tab sheets T1 to T4 divided into four divisions is set, and in addition, 4 sheets of red, blue, yellow, and green are used. For example, a colored paper having a set of colored paper sheets. In the following description, the index sheet is described as a tab sheet, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 11, an image reading unit 12, an image processing unit 13, an image memory 14, an image clipping unit 15, and a print setting storage unit (print setting storage unit). Means) 16, image output unit 17, print count unit (counting unit) 21, calculation unit (calculation unit) 22, communication unit 23, and control unit 24. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the host PCs 3a and 3b via the communication network 2.

  The operation panel 11 has a function of notifying the operation status of the image forming apparatus 1 to the user and inputting a user instruction to the image forming apparatus 1. The operation panel 11 includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) touch panel and a keyboard.

  The user confirms the operation status of the image forming apparatus 1 through the LCD panel. The operation status is, for example, what number of pages the currently printed paper belongs to, or what number of pages. Further, the LCD panel displays a guidance screen for input so that the user can easily input print setting information to be described later.

  Further, using the keyboard, the user can give an instruction to the image forming apparatus 1 and can input print setting information described later.

  The communication unit 23 is connected to the communication network 2. The communication unit 23 receives print setting information and image data to be described later from the host PCs 3 a and 3 b outside the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication network 2. The communication unit 23 sends the received print setting information and image data to the control unit 24. The communication unit 23 is mainly used when the image forming apparatus 1 functions as a printer.

  The image reading unit 12 reads an image from a document and converts it into image data. The image reading unit 12 is mainly used when the image forming apparatus 1 functions as a copying machine. The image reading unit 12 includes a document table, a scanning unit, an optical lens, and a photoelectric conversion element CCD (charge coupled device) (not shown).

  The image reading unit 12 reciprocates the scanning unit in parallel with the document table, reads the document image on the document table using an optical lens, and forms a reflected light image from the document image on the CCD. The CCD photoelectrically converts the reflected light image to generate image data of an electrical signal.

  The image reading unit 12 is connected to the control unit 24 and outputs the generated image data to the control unit 24.

  The image processing unit 13 performs predetermined image data processing on the image data read by the image reading unit 12 and the image data transmitted to the communication unit 23. The predetermined image data processing includes known image processing such as shading correction processing for correcting the image level, color correction processing for correcting the color data of each color, and halftone processing.

  The image memory 14 is for temporarily storing image data that has been subjected to image data processing by the image processing unit 13. In the image memory 14, image data read by the image reading unit 12 and image data sent from the external PCs 3 a and 3 b via the communication unit 23 are subjected to image data processing, and then are controlled by the control unit 24. Stored.

  The image cutout unit 15 performs processing for cutting out an image to be printed on the tab portion from image data to be printed on the tab sheet, and processing for moving the print position to the tab portion. Normally, the original paper is plain paper, and no tab portion is formed. Therefore, processing is performed to move the print position to the tab portion so that the image to be formed on the tab portion is cut out from the image written on the original paper, and the cut image is printed at the position of the tab portion. The position of the tab portion is easily determined from the number of tab sheet divisions and the number of printed tab sheets, as will be described later.

  The print setting storage unit 16 is a storage device for storing print setting information. The print setting information includes the number of copies L, the number of tab sheet divisions M, tab sheet feed tray information representing a sheet feed tray containing tab sheets, sheet size information representing the sheet size of plain paper to be printed, and tab sheets. N is the number of pages to be printed. The print setting information is input from the operation panel 11 or the communication unit 23 as described above. The input print setting information is stored in the print setting storage unit 16 by the control unit 24.

  The image output unit 17 prints the image data read by the image reading unit 12 or the image data input to the communication unit 23 on a sheet such as plain paper or tab paper, and discharges (outputs) the image data. It is.

  The image output unit 17 includes a print engine 18, a paper feed unit 19, and a paper discharge unit 20.

  The print engine 18 is, for example, an image output device based on an ink jet method, and ejects ink dots of each color onto the surface of a recording medium such as paper based on image data read from the image memory 14, in accordance with the document image. A function of forming a recorded image on a recording medium. When an image is formed on tab paper, the print engine 18 forms the image cut out by the image cutout unit 15 at the tab position determined by the image cutout unit 15.

  The print engine 18 may be an electrophotographic system. In this case, the print engine 18 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor according to the image data and uses a developer (toner) of each color. After the electrostatic latent image is developed, an image is formed by transferring and fixing the toner image on a sheet.

  The paper supply unit 19 is for supplying paper on which an image is formed by the print engine 18. The paper feed unit 19 includes a first paper feed unit 19a, a manual paper feed tray (second paper feed unit) 19b, and a paper feed conveyance path.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first paper feed unit 19 a is positioned below the image forming apparatus 1 and includes a plurality of stages (for example, three stages in FIG. 2). Different types and sizes of paper can be stored in the paper feed trays at each stage. Plain paper can be accommodated in each stage of the first paper supply unit 19a, and tab paper can also be accommodated. Usually, the first paper supply unit 19a often stores plain paper. Here, it is assumed that A4 size plain paper P is stored in the uppermost stage of the first paper supply unit 19a. Therefore, the first paper supply unit 19a can be said to be a recording paper supply unit (plain paper supply unit).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the manual paper feed tray 19b is formed outward from the side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. Therefore, the user can easily replace or store paper in the manual paper feed tray 19b. Accordingly, special paper such as tab paper is often stored in the manual paper feed unit 23b. Therefore, it can be said that the manual sheet feeding unit 23b is a tab sheet supply unit (index sheet supply unit).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the tab sheets are stored in the manual sheet feed tray 19b in a state where a plurality of sets of tab sheets T1 to T4 are continuously stacked.

  The sheet feeding conveyance path (not shown) is a conveyance path for conveying the sheets stored in the sheet feeding trays and the manual sheet feeding tray 19 b of each stage of the first sheet feeding unit 19 a to the print engine 22. Under the control of the control unit 24, a paper feed tray that stores paper to be printed is specified, and the paper is sent from the specified paper feed tray to the print engine 18 through the paper feed conveyance path.

  The paper discharge unit 20 discharges (discharges) the paper processed by the print engine 18. The paper discharge unit 20 includes a paper discharge tray group 20a, a paper discharge tray (second paper discharge tray) 20b, and a paper discharge transport path.

As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge tray group 20a is located on the side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and has a plurality of discharge trays (first discharge trays) 20a ₁ , 20a ₂ ,. doing. The paper discharge trays 20a ₁ , 20a ₂ ,... Are for discharging printed paper (printed matter).

Since there are a plurality of paper discharge trays 20a ₁ , 20a ₂ ,..., When copying a plurality of copies of a bundle of documents, each copy can be discharged to each paper discharge tray, making it easy to sort each print unit. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge tray 20b is located on the side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 opposite to the paper discharge tray group 20a. Paper other than normally used paper such as paper with poor printing is discharged to the paper discharge tray 20b. Thereby, it is possible to easily sort normally printed sheets and the other sheets.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the tab sheets of a fraction of one set or a plurality of sets of tab sheets that are not used in the output job for each part are discharged to the discharge tray 20b. Thereby, each printing part and fractional tab sheets can be easily sorted, and the operability of the image forming apparatus 1 is improved.

The paper discharge conveyance path (not shown) is for conveying paper from the print engine 18 to the paper discharge trays 20a ₁ , 20a ₂ ,... Of the paper discharge tray group 20a or the paper discharge tray 20b. Under the control of the control unit 24, the paper discharge tray to be discharged is specified, and the discharged paper is sent from the print engine 18 to the specified discharge tray via the discharge conveyance path.

  The print count unit 21 is for counting the number of sheets on which images are formed by the image output unit 17. The print count unit 21 prints 1 indicating the number of the current copy, m indicating the number of used tab sheets (the number of used tab sheets), and the number of pages printed. N indicating whether or not

  The values of l, m, and n counted by the print count unit 21 are displayed on the operation panel 11. As a result, the user can immediately grasp the current printing status.

  The calculation unit 22 is used to calculate the number of tab sheets to determine whether or not there is an unused tab sheet at the end of print output for each section.

  The calculation unit 22 divides the number m of used tab sheets by the number M of tab sheet divisions, and calculates the remainder. Let the remainder be mod (m / M). The calculator 22 further calculates a difference between M and mod (m / M): (M-mod (m / M)). (M-mod (m / M)) corresponds to the number of tab sheets remaining in the paper feed tray. Thereby, the calculation unit 22 can calculate the fraction of the tab sheet.

  The control unit 24 is for controlling the operation of each of the above components of the image forming apparatus 1.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a copying machine, the control unit 24 controls the image reading unit 12 to read a document image from a document bundle according to an instruction from the user via the operation panel 11. When the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a printer, the control unit 24 acquires image data from the host PCs 3 a and 3 b via the communication unit 23 and the communication network 2.

  The control unit 24 controls the image processing unit 13 so as to perform predetermined image data processing on the image data read by the image reading unit 12 or the image data acquired via the communication unit 23. Then, the control unit 24 stores the image data subjected to the predetermined image data processing by the image processing unit 13 in the image memory 14.

  When forming an image, the control unit 24 reads out the image data stored in the image memory 14 and sends the image data to the image output unit 17. However, when forming an image on a tab sheet, the control unit 24 performs an image clipping process and a printing position movement process on the image data of the tab page to be printed on the tab sheet. To control the operation.

  The control unit 24 controls the operation panel 11 when the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a copying machine, and the communication unit 23 when the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a printer, in order to obtain print setting information from the user.

  First, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a copying machine will be described. Under the control of the control unit 24, the operation panel 11 displays guidance for inputting print setting information including paper size information, number of copies L, tab sheet feed tray information, tab sheet division number M, and tab page N. Repeat in order. Thereby, the user can easily input the print setting information to the operation panel 11.

  Next, a case where the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a printer will be described. Under the control of the control unit 24, the communication unit 23 notifies the host PCs 3 a and 3 b to request transmission of the print setting information via the communication network 2. Thereby, the user can easily transmit the print setting information to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The control unit 24 stores the print setting information obtained from the operation panel 11 or the communication unit 23 in the print setting storage unit 16.

  Further, the control unit 24 controls the operation of the image output unit 17 so as to output the image data stored in the image memory 14.

  When printing the tab page N stored in the print setting storage unit 16, the control unit 24 conveys the tab sheet to the print engine 18 based on the tab sheet feed tray information stored in the print setting storage unit 16. Thus, the sheet feeding unit 19 is controlled.

  On the other hand, when printing a page other than the tab page N stored in the print setting storage unit 16, the control unit 24 converts the plain paper into the print engine 18 based on the paper size information stored in the print setting storage unit 16. The sheet feeding unit 19 is controlled so as to be conveyed.

Further, the control unit 24 controls the paper discharge unit 20 to discharge the printed plain paper and tab paper to the paper discharge trays 20a ₁ , 20a ₂ ,.

  Based on the fraction calculated by the calculation unit 22, the control unit 24 can determine whether there is a tab sheet with a fraction that is not printed and is not used. When there is a tab sheet with a fraction, the control unit 24 causes the print engine 18 to transport the tab sheet for the fraction based on the tab sheet feed tray information stored in the print setting storage unit. The image output unit 17 is controlled so that the tab sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 20b without printing (in the blank printing).

  Further, the control unit 24 can change each count value of the print count unit every time one sheet is printed.

  Next, the flow of tab printing processing for printing on a tab sheet for a predetermined page will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Hereinafter, a case where the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a copying machine will be described. When the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a printer, the communication unit 23 performs the following processing on the operation panel 11 for obtaining print setting information and processing on the image reading unit 12 for obtaining image data. It may be replaced with the process.

  The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the overall processing procedure of tab printing, and particularly shows the initial setting processing of printing in detail.

  First, under the control of the control unit 24, the operation panel 11 displays that the paper size is input, and acquires paper size information from the user. The control unit 24 stores the paper size information acquired by the operation panel 11 in the print setting storage unit 16. Thereby, the paper size is set (S1).

  Next, the operation panel 11 displays that the number of copies to be printed L is input, and acquires information regarding the number of copies to be printed from the user. The control unit 24 stores the number L of prints acquired by the operation panel 11 in the print setting storage unit 16. Thereby, the number of copies L is set (S2).

  Next, the operation panel 11 displays that the paper feed tray in which the tab paper is accommodated is input, and acquires the tab paper feed tray information from the user. The control unit 24 stores the tab sheet feed tray information acquired by the operation panel 11 in the print setting storage unit 16. Thereby, the tab sheet feeding tray is set (S3).

  Next, the operation panel 11 displays that the tab sheet division number is input, and acquires the tab division number M from the user. The control unit 24 stores the tab division number M acquired by the operation panel 11 in the print setting storage unit 16. Thereby, the tab division number M is set (S4).

  Next, the operation panel 11 displays that the number of pages to be printed on the tab sheet is input, and acquires the tab page N from the user. The control unit 24 stores the tab page N acquired by the operation panel 11 in the print setting storage unit 16. Thereby, the tab page N is set (S5).

  Thereafter, in S6, copying is started, tab printing processing described later is performed, and the copying ends.

  In the above, the setting process is performed in the order of the sheet size information, the number of copies L, the tab sheet feed tray information, the tab division number M, and the tab page N. However, the order of the setting process is not limited thereto. It is sufficient that S1 to S5 have been completed by the copy start step (S6), and the order can be arbitrarily changed.

  Next, the tab printing process shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 4 shows the procedure of tab print processing in detail.

  First, when the tab printing process is started, the control unit 24 indicates the number of copies to be copied among the set number of print copies in the print count unit 21 and the number of used tab sheets. The values of m and n representing the number of pages to be copied among the plurality of document images are returned to the initial values. That is, since the first copy is printed, l = 1, and since the number of tab sheets copied is 0, m = 0, and the first page is printed, so that n = 1 is set (S7).

  Next, under the control of the control unit 24, the image reading unit 12 reads image data from each page of a plurality of document bundles (S8).

  Thereafter, the control unit 24 sends the image data read by the image reading unit 12 to the image processing unit 13 and controls the image processing unit 13 to perform predetermined image data processing (S9).

  Next, the control unit 24 stores the image data subjected to the image data processing in the image processing unit 13 in the image memory 14 (S10).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the page to be copied is a tab sheet page. That is, it is determined whether n is N (S11).

  If n = N (Yes in S11), that is, if the page to be copied is a tab sheet, a process for copying on one tab sheet is started.

  First, the control unit 24 increases the value of the number m of tab sheets copied in the print count unit 21 by 1 (S12).

  Next, under the control of the control unit 24, the image cutout unit 15 cuts out an image to be copied to the tab portion from the image data corresponding to the nth page, and performs a process of moving the copy position to the position of the tab portion (S13). . The moving position is set from the value M of the tab sheet division number set in S4 and the number of tab sheets used (indicating the number of tab sheets to be copied here). The For example, when M = 4 and m = 1, 5, 9,..., A process for moving the copy position to the uppermost tab position by dividing the edge of the paper on which the tab is formed into four is performed. Is done.

  Next, the control unit 24 controls the sheet feeding unit 19 based on the tab sheet feeding tray information stored in the print setting storage unit 16 to convey one tab sheet to the print engine 18. That is, in the sheet feeding unit 19, one tab sheet is taken out from the tab sheet feeding tray set in S3 and conveyed to the print engine 18 through the sheet feeding conveyance path.

Next, the print engine 18 copies the image data cut out by the image cutout unit 15 in S12 to the tab position set in S12 (S14). Thereafter, the copied tab sheet is discharged to the _first- stage discharge tray 20a1 of the discharge tray group 20a through the discharge conveyance path under the control of the control unit 24.

  On the other hand, if n = N is not satisfied (No in S11), that is, if the page to be copied is not a tab sheet, a copy process to one plain sheet is started.

  First, the control unit 24 controls the paper feeding unit 19 based on the paper size information (set in S1) stored in the print setting storage unit 16. In the paper feeding unit 19 under the control of the control unit 24, one plain paper is taken out from the paper feeding tray containing the plain paper corresponding to the paper size information, and is printed via the paper feeding conveyance path. Paper is fed to the engine 18 (S16).

Next, the control unit 24 reads the image data of the nth page from the image memory 14 and sends the read image data to the print engine 18. The print engine 18 copies the image onto the fed plain paper based on the sent image data (S17). Plain paper on which the image is copied by the control of the control unit 24, via a conveyance path for paper discharge, is discharged to the discharge tray 20a ₁ of the l-th stage of the paper discharge tray unit 20a.

  When the process of S15 or S17 ends, the process proceeds to S18. In S18, it is determined whether there is a next page to be copied. That is, the number of documents whose images have been read from the bundle of documents is compared with the value of n. If n is less than the number of documents, it is determined that there is a next page. If n is the same as the number of documents, it is determined that there is no next page.

  When there is a next page (Yes in S18), the control unit 24 increases the value of n in the print count unit 21 by 1 (S19). Thereafter, the processes from S11 to S18 are repeated.

  On the other hand, if there is no next page (No in S18), this means that one copy has been completed. Here, there is no problem if the number of tab sheets used in one copy is an integral multiple of the division number M of the tab sheet. If the paper is not removed, the tab position will change for each part.

  Therefore, first, the calculation unit 22 calculates a remainder mod (m / M) obtained by dividing the used tab sheet number m corresponding to the number of tab sheets used in one copy by the tab sheet division number M (S20). .

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is a tab sheet fraction (S21). Whether or not the tab sheet has a fraction is determined by whether or not the remainder mod (m / M) calculated in S20 is other than zero. When the remainder mod (m / M) calculated in S20 is 0, there is no fraction, and when the remainder mod (m / M) is other than 0, the fraction exists.

  If there is a fraction (Yes in S21), the process of S22 is performed. In S22, the control unit 24 controls the calculation unit 22 to calculate a fraction. The fraction is calculated from the value obtained by subtracting the remainder from the division number M: (M-mod (m / M)).

  The control unit 24 controls the image output unit 17 to discharge the tab sheets for the fraction calculated by the calculation unit 22. Specifically, the control unit 24 specifies a paper feed tray (for example, the manual paper feed tray 19b) in which the tab paper is stored based on the tab paper feed tray information stored in the print setting storage unit 16. . Then, in the paper feeding unit 19 under the control of the control unit 24, tab sheets for the fraction calculated by the calculation unit 22 are fed to the print engine 18. The print engine 18 sends the supplied tab sheet to the paper discharge unit 20 as it is without performing a printing process (blank printing process). In the paper discharge unit 20, the tab paper of the fraction printed in the blank is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 20b.

  When the process of S22 is completed, or when it is determined in S21 that there is no fraction (No in S21), it is determined whether or not the copy of the number of copies L set in S2 is completed. That is, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the value of 1 in the print count unit is equal to the value of the number of prints L stored in the print setting storage unit 16 (S23).

  If l = L is not satisfied (No in S23), the next copy is started. The control unit 24 increases the value of l of the print count unit 21 by 1 (S24), then returns the value of n to 1 (S25), and returns the value of m to 0 (S26). Thereafter, the process returns to S11, and the next copy process is performed.

  On the other hand, if l = L (Yes in S23), since the set number of copies has been completed, the tab printing process ends.

  In the above tab printing process, in S13 and S15, an image is formed on a tab sheet used for insertion in each part. However, the image is merely inserted and an image may not be formed. In this case, the image output unit 17 performs blank printing and discharges the image to the discharge tray group 20a without forming an image.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plain paper supply unit (a recording paper supply unit, for example, the first paper supply unit 19a) and a tab paper supply unit (index paper supply unit). For example, a manual paper feed tray 19b), and the tab paper supplied from the tab paper supply unit is inserted into the plain paper supplied from the plain paper supply unit for discharging. In a possible image forming apparatus, a tab sheet consisting of a set of a plurality of sheets is installed, and the tab sheet used for each part of the output job generates a fraction with respect to an integral multiple of the number of tab sheets for a set. In the case of performing the output, the tab sheet of the fraction is discharged after the output of each printing unit is completed.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the operation of removing the tab sheet of the fraction, and the operability is improved.

  In particular, when printing a plurality of copies, the operability is further improved. This is because it is not necessary to perform a very troublesome operation of removing a fraction of tab sheets for each copy before starting printing. Alternatively, it is not necessary to remove fractional tab sheets from the tab sheet supply unit (for example, the manual sheet feed tray 19b) after completion of print output for each unit, so that the user does not have to wait in front of the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, since printing is not interrupted for each copy, the printing performance can be maintained at a high level.

  The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a print setting storage unit (print setting storage) that stores a division number M, which is a set number of tab sheets, when tab sheets including a plurality of sheets are set in the tab sheet supply unit. Means) 16, a print count section (counting means) 21 that counts the number of used tab sheets m, which is the number of tab sheets used in each output job, and a division stored in the print setting storage section 16. Based on the number M and the number m of used tab sheets counted by the print counting unit 21, the fractions of one or a plurality of sets of tab sheets remaining unused in each output job are calculated. And a calculation unit (calculation means) 22 for performing the above operation.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 can store the number M of tab sheet divisions and can count the number m of used tab sheets. Further, the calculation unit 22 can automatically calculate the number of tab sheets based on the number of divisions M and the number of used tab sheets m. This eliminates the need for the user to estimate the number of tab sheets in advance.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, the tab sheet of the fraction that is discharged after the output of each printing unit is discharged is different from the discharge tray group 20 a (discharge trays 20 a ₁ , 20 a ₂ ,...) Of the printing unit. It is discharged to the tray 20b.

Therefore, it becomes easy to sort each printing unit and the fractional tab sheet, and the operability of the image forming apparatus 1 is further improved. Next, a specific example when copying using the image forming apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 shows a document bundle in this specific example. In this specific example, the number of documents is nine, and the tab page numbers that are pages to be copied to the tab sheet are 1, 4, and 6. On pages 1, 4 and 6, “a”, “b” and “c” which are images to be copied to the tab portion are described, respectively. The other pages are copied to A4 size plain paper P. On pages 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9, “A ₁ ”, “A ₂ ”, “B ₁ ”, “C ₁ ”, “C ₂ ”, which are images to be copied to plain paper P, “C ₃ ” is described.

  A process for copying (copying) the original bundle shown in FIG. 5 using the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Note that the tab paper has the number of divisions 4 shown in FIG. 8, and one set of tab papers T1 to T4. Furthermore, the number of copies is two, the paper feed tray containing the plain paper P of paper size A4 is manually fed to the uppermost paper feed tray of the first paper feed unit 19a, and the paper feed tray containing the tab paper is manually fed. Let it be the tray 23a.

  When copying is started, first, the paper size: A4 in S1, L = 2 in S2, L = 2 in S2, the tab paper feed tray: manual feed tray 19b, M = 4 in S4, and N = 1, 4 in S5 in FIG. , 6 are set, and the print setting information is stored in the print setting storage unit 16.

  Subsequently, the l, m, and n values are returned to the initial values in S7, and the image of the original bundle consisting of the pages 1 to 9 is read in S8 to S10, and the image data is stored in the image memory 14.

  Next, images are copied in the order of pages 1 to 9 by the processes of S10 to S18.

  In the case of n = 1, 4, 6, since n = N, the processes of S12 to S15 are performed.

When n = 1, in S13, the image cutout unit 15 cuts out the image “a” from the image data of page 1 stored in the image memory 14, and moves the print position to the position of the tab portion of the tab sheet T1. Process. In step S <b> 14, the tab sheet T <b> 1 stacked on the top from the manual sheet feeding tray 19 b is sent to the print engine 18. In S15, as shown in FIG. 6, the print engine 18 copies the image “a” that has been subjected to the above-described processing by the image cutout unit 15 to the tab portion of the tab sheet T1. Copied tab sheet T1 is discharged to the discharge tray 20a _1.

  Similarly, when n = 4 and 6, as shown in FIG. 6, the tab sheet T2 on which the image “b” is formed and the tab sheet T3 on which the image “c” is formed are discharged.

  On the other hand, in the case of n = 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9, since n = N is not satisfied, the processes of S16 and S17 are performed.

When n = 2, the plain paper P1 is taken out from the uppermost paper feed tray of the first paper feed unit 19a and fed to the print engine 18 in S16. Next, in S <b> 17, the print engine 18 copies the image “A ₁ ” to the fed plain paper P, as shown in FIG. 6, based on the image data of page 2 read from the image memory 14. To do. Copied plain paper P is discharged to the paper discharge tray 20a _1.

  The same applies when n = 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9.

As described above, by repeating the processes of S11 to S18 nine times in the order of n = 1 to 9, as shown in FIG. 6, the tab sheet T1 on which the image “a” is copied and the image “A ₁ ”. Are copied in the order of plain paper P,. As shown in FIG. 7, the copied sheets are sequentially discharged to the discharge tray 20a1.

  When the first copy is completed, the tab sheet fraction is calculated in S20 to S22, and the tab sheet corresponding to the fraction is blank printed and discharged.

  In this specific example, the number of tab sheets used is three and the number of tab sheet divisions is M = 4. Therefore, in S20 to S22, the calculation unit 22 calculates mod (m / M) = 3, The fraction 1 is calculated by the equation (M-mod (m / M)).

  Based on the calculation result of the calculation unit 22, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the image output unit 17 prints one of the tab sheets T4 as a fraction, and discharges it to the discharge tray 20b. As a result, in the manual paper feed tray 19b in which tab sheets are accommodated, a new set of tab sheets is positioned at the top for the next copy.

Subsequently, the copy of the next copy (second copy) is started through S23 to S26. The processes of S11 to S18 are repeated nine times, and the image is copied to each sheet in the second copy as shown in FIG. However, the second copy of the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 20a ₂ as shown in FIG. This facilitates the sorting of the first and second copies.

  When the second copy is completed, the processing of S20 to S22 is performed as in the first copy, and the tab sheet T4 with one fraction is blank printed as shown in FIG. The paper is discharged to the paper tray 20b.

As a result of the above processing, as shown in FIG. 7, the _first copied sheet is in the discharge tray 20a ₁ and the second copied sheet is in the discharge tray 20a _2. A fractional tab sheet T4 is discharged to 20b. This makes it very easy to sort the copied sheet bundle of each part and the tab sheet of the fraction, and the operability of the image forming apparatus 1 is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the image cut-out process S13 is configured to be performed immediately before the tab sheet is fed, but may be performed before the image storage process S10 in which the image data is stored in the image memory 12.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a multi-function machine, but is not limited thereto, and may be a single copying machine or a printer.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and the embodiments can be obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. The form is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  It is not necessary to perform the operation of removing the fractional index sheets, and the operability is improved, so that the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus capable of feeding and discharging index sheets such as tab sheets.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of initial setting processing when performing tab printing for printing on a tab sheet for a predetermined page in the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a tab printing process. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a document bundle to be copied by the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a copy result when the original shown in FIG. 5 is copied. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing sheets discharged to each discharge tray when the document shown in FIG. 5 is copied. It is a figure which shows one specific example of tab paper.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 16 Print setting memory | storage part (print setting memory | storage means)
19a First paper feed unit (recording paper supply unit)
19b Manual feed tray (index paper supply unit)
20a ₁ , 20a ₂ , 20b Paper discharge tray 21 Print count unit (counting means)
22 Calculation part (calculation means)
T1, T2, T3, T4 Tab paper (index paper)

Claims (3)

Image forming that has a recording paper supply unit and an index paper supply unit separately and can discharge while inserting the index paper supplied from the index paper supply unit into the recording paper supplied from the recording paper supply unit In the device
If you install index sheets that make up a set of multiple sheets, and the index sheets used in each output job cause a fraction of an integer multiple of the number of sets of index sheets, print each An image forming apparatus that discharges a fractional index sheet after finishing the output of the image. Image forming that has a recording paper supply unit and an index paper supply unit separately and can discharge while inserting the index paper supplied from the index paper supply unit into the recording paper supplied from the recording paper supply unit In the device
Print setting storage means for storing a division number which is a set number of the index sheets when setting index sheets including a plurality of sheets in the index sheet supply unit;
Counting means for counting the number of used index sheets, which is the number of index sheets used in each output job;
Based on the number of divisions stored in the print setting storage unit and the number of used index sheets counted by the counting unit, one set or a plurality of sets remaining unused in each output job Calculating means for calculating the fraction of the index paper of
An image forming apparatus that discharges a fractional index sheet after completion of output of each printing unit.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fractional index paper discharged after the output of each printing unit is discharged to a paper discharge tray different from the paper discharge tray of the printing unit.

Images